Optional: A CD ROM, On Common Ground, by Diana Eck is available in the South and Center Campus Libraries. Use of the CD is voluntary, but it will help you "personalize" the course through a broader experience with persons and places of many faith traditions. Ask for it at the media desk.
Web Site for the text: www.prenhall.com/fisher

1. Our first objective is to describe various frameworks for organizing a study of religion using an appropriate vocabulary. What we see will depend upon our point of view. We want to utilize an objective approach in relation to course content.
2. In each unit, you will need to demonstrate understanding of the concepts of the religions we study. Each faith expresses itself in unique ways. While they have feature in common, we should avoid seeing them as "basically the same." This approach overlooks the important diversity among religions.
3. You will develop and utilize skills of defining, organizing, expressing and comparing religious issues through writing questions and answers. Skill development is worked into the assignments.
4. You will compare expressions of religious belief reflected in myth, ritual, individual experience, the arts, and social issues of the religions studied.
5. You will demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills: analysis, synthesis, use of illustration and example, analogy and comparison.
6. You will demonstrate an awareness of cultural contexts of geography, history, art and important persons and events as they relate to the religions studied.
7. You will reflect on religious experiences outside of class in various worship communities. 

• Tests: 4 unit tests are each 10% of your final grade, as is the final exam.

Tests are based on course objectives and reflect class notes, course pack and the text. They will be a mixture of multiple choice, true/false, matching, essay and term definition/descriptions. Test grades will be in terms of points offered. Point values will be converted to letter grades using the following percentages:
90% A; 80% B; 70% C; 60% D; 59% and less, E.
In extreme circumstances, make-up tests will be given Only if instructor is notified on or before the test day and the student has demonstrated extreme circumstances. 
• Final exam: 10% Last day of class. A group oral final will be administered in test teams of 4-5 students. Additionally, each student will write 1 final exam essay question.
• Term Project: 15% A Book Analysis or Religious Issue project. See last part of course pack. Due right after week 8. I will hold a 2-hour writing seminar in the Learning Center to prepare you for your term project. Please make every effort to attend.
• Class work, Assignments and Field Experiences: 35% 
• Includes response to seminar discussion questions, assignments, group work in class, oral or written reviews of experiences, and general participation. Points are awarded for each assignment, class attendance and participation each week. There will be about 200 assignment points and 30 Field Trip points in this portion of your grade. You cannot earn class work points without attendance. Two lates or leaving early will equal one absence. 

• Introduction to the study of religions
• Native American religious traditions (indigenous)
• TEST
• Judaism
• Christianity
• TEST
• Islam
• Baha'I
• TEST
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• TEST
• Readings for each of the 4 units will be taken from the text and coursepack.